Luke 8:4-18

41When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5“The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the 2air ate it up. 6Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “3He who has ears to hear, 4let him hear.”

95His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. 10And He said, “6To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that 7seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

11“Now the parable is this: 8the seed is the word of God. 12Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; 9they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with 10perseverance.

16“Now 11no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. 1712For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18So take care how you listen; 13for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he 14thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”